What does it mean to be a “member”? The word, from Latin and Old French, literally means a part of the physical body. So when the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians that “the body is one and has many members,” the spiritual metaphor holds true with its roots.

he body of Christ—the Church—is like that, Paul says. And all the parts are valuable. “As it is, there are many parts, yet one body,” the text continues. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

When our church’s revised Plan of Organization was adopted at the recent Congregational Business Meeting, one person attending noted the section on membership that it contains, and suggested that we lift up that section more regularly. “Church membership is membership in the body of Christ and is not to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly,” it begins. And later it lays out what that role entails:

“Members are expected to be faithful in discharging Christian responsibilities by regular attendance and participation at worship services, communion services, and meetings of the congregation and by their stewardship of time, talent, and treasure. Members shall remember in every aspect of their lives that they are a part of the church and are responsible for a witness that is Christian.”

Wow! That’s a fairly daunting commitment. But if by being part of the church we are saying that we are disciples of Jesus Christ continuing his work in the world alongside the faith community in which we wor-ship, should we expect anything less?

In our baptismal vows, we say—in some version—that we will repent of sin, commit to following Jesus, live in harmony with Scripture, and be faithful to the church with our prayers, presence, and service. It’s about becoming part of a community—an earthly one and a spiritual one. Our lives should reflect that. Whether you are an “official” member of this congregation or a regular participant, I hope you will take some time to reflect on your relationship to Christ and the church and consider where those ties might need tending. If you’re not a member but have considered taking that next step, we will likely be schedul-ing a time to accept new members in the next few months. Please let me know if you have interest or questions, or if you know someone else who might.

To all of you who are part of this particular faith community in any form, I am deeply grateful for you, both in this season of thanksgiving and throughout the year. May your witness be a bright one, and may all we do encourage good health in the body of Christ. --Pastor Walt

EASTON CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

Mission Statement

“Sharing the love and blessing of God with all.”

NOVEMBER, 2019 PEACHBLOSSOM PRESS NEWSLETTER

412 S. Harrison Street Easton, MD 21601

410-822-0475 eastonchurchofthebrethren@gmail.com

Website: www.eastonbrethren.org

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Nov. 3 Guest speaker, Bobby Hutchison: “The Happy Dummy” Eccl. 5:18-20 and Luke 16:5-6 Nov. 10 Faith According to the Beatles: Imagine Isaiah 65:17-25, Luke 21:5-19, Psalm 98, Job 19:23-27a Nov. 17 Faith According to the Beatles: All the Lonely People (Eleanor Rigby) Matthew 25:31-46, Psalm 139:1-14, James 1:22-27 Nov. 24 Faith According to the Beatles: Let It Be Matthew 9:27-31, Psalm 46, Colossians 1:11-20, 2 Chron. 1:7-13 2 Emily Holmes, Zachary Correa 3 Hunter Moore, Eric Gunn, Ryleigh Miller 4 Aaron Schreckengast 5 Kenny Fike, Anne Harvey, Walt Wiltschek 7 Andrew Deregowski, Sharon Lister 8 Dorothy Stichberry 10 Delia Faye Mullikin, Dawn Best 11 Tyler Miller 15 Alexander Crannell 16 Cindy Allen 17 Carson Phelps, Joy Miller, Nancy Fluharty, James Young 20 Morgan Pierce 22 Natalee Jones 24 Coulby Miller, Sharon Caldwell 26 Naiobi Turnage 28 Lee Walker, Trey Haddaway 29 John Stichberry Jr. 30 John Nalley, Charles E. Schwaninger

7 Russell & Jennifer Miles 8 Rick & Jane Marshall Billy & Karen Rathell 22 Gene & Betty Lednum 26 Dan & Paula Ulrich 27 Wade & Patty Miller

Our Prayer List

Pleaseprayforthefollowingindividu‐alsandtheirfamilies:TheKraussfam‐ily,BruceButler,VirginiaWatson,SharonLister,TomSchuyler,PatSathoff,Paul&GinnyTurkington,PatLewis,Junior&BonnieWooters,BobFletcher,EllenWal‐bridge,PeteHaynes,LeeRoesti,NormanHarding,Gene&BettyLednum,BarbaraSeese,GraceWayCoB,NancyScheffler,RogerPlagge,JKRider,JohnNalley,BobbyHopkins,KurtKline,DeeCandel,MaryAnnKiser,DougEdsall,LoisSchall,MeredithKelly,NataleeJones,DorisWalbridge,JeffWright,continuousprayersforourchurchfamilyinNigeria,con‐tinuedprayersforComfortAmos,BarbaraTaylor,AudreyGeib,LeoTruban,EmersonFike,KatelynHoward,Christine&KennyFike.Prayforleaders&peoplethatareworkingto‐wardspeace.Pleasephonethechurchtoaddorremovepersonsonourprayerlist.Inordertokeepthelistup‐to‐date,wewillremovepersonstheendofeachmonthunlessweareaskedtocontinuethemonthelist.

Special dates in November

• All Saints’ Day, November 1, 2019 • Daylight-Saving Time ends, November 3, 2019 • Veterans Day, November 11, 2019 • Christ the King Sunday, November 24, 2019 • Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2019

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Box Tops for Education

Please continue to collect the box tops for education during this school year. The box tops are found on a variety of food items we purchase. The box tops will enable us in some small way help the school children of Talbot County. Thank you for your participation. Your Witness Team Diane Shores & Anne Harvey

Leadership Team Meeting

The November 4 Leadership Team meet-ing has been cancelled. The next meeting

will be held on Monday, December 2 at 1:00 p.m. All 2020 incoming members are encouraged to attend.

Minutes from October 4 meeting

Judy and Dale’s report reconciled. $600 was used to pay for a new Peace Pole at

Idlewild Park. Pastor Walt informed members that Easton may be

out of the rotation for District Conference in 2020, because of the Bay Bridge traffic.

Driveway at the parsonage was resurfaced. This was paid for by Pastor Walt...Thank you!

2020 Budget and Slate is ready for CBM. There is a new proposal for Student Loan fund. Soup & Sandwiches will be served at CBM. Ministry Teams gave reports.

There will be no vespers service in November. Information to come on the De-

cember vespers soon.

TURKEY TRIVIA

How much do you know about the official bird of Thanksgiving? 1. True or False: Turkeys can fly. 2. How many stomachs does a turkey have? 3. Which has better color vision: A turkey or a human? 4. How fast can a turkey run? 5. What do you call a baby turkey? 6. Do turkeys make sounds other than gobbling? 7. True or False: Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey should be the national bird of the US. 8. What do you call the red thing that hangs over a turkey’s beak? 9. Which US state produces the most turkeys? 10. About what percentage of US homes eat turkey on Thanksgiving? ANSWERS: 1. True! While domesticated turkeys aren’t terribly aerodynamic, wild turkeys can reach air speeds up to 55 miles per hour. 2. Two. Unfortunately we only have one to fill with those Thanksgiving feasts. 3. A tur-key does. They can also see across a 270-degree span. 4. Up to 25 miles per hour, about the same as a charg-ing elephant! 5. Baby turkeys are called poults. 6. They do indeed. Turkeys also purr, yelp, and make a sound called a “kee-kee.” Only male turkeys gobble, by the way. 7. False. Franklin was fond of turkeys, but he never made an official proposal to make it the national bird. 8. It’s called the turkey’s “snood.” Among male turkeys, it helps determine the pecking order (so to speak). 9. Minnesota, which raised about 49 million annually. Virginia is in the top five. 10. About 90 percent!

Sources: MentalFloss.com, Smithsonian.com, Mother Nature Network, National Conference of State Legisla-tures.

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Talbot Interfaith Shelter

The 2019 volunteer list is available for sign-up. Please take the time and look to see where you can spare a few hours of your time every other month. Any questions, please contact Norma Trax. Our next date is January 19, 2020.

Interested in Serving as Worship Leader or doing the Children's Time?

We're always looking for new people to share their gifts! It doesn't take a lot of time--just a bit of preparation and a willingness to serve. If you would like to join this team of volunteers or want more information, please contact the church office or Pastor Walt.

Neighborhood Service Center

Please contact Marilyn Neal, if you are interested in volunteering at the center. Their phone number is 410-822-5015.

NSC Food Pantry

Let’s not forget that food prices keep going up! When we pay attention to our local, national and international food needs, we are reminded that people suffer from food insecurity all around. If we do not share of our bounty, others go hungry. Let us give, so others may live. Any non-perishable food items with good “best if used by” dates are accepted. There is a container in the narthex to put your non-perishable items.

Ridgeway House Lunches

The 1st & 3rd Fridays of each month. For months that have five Fridays, lunches will be provided on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Friday. Contact Loretta Lohr (410-822-3094). Monetary and food donations (drink boxes, individual fruit cups, small bags of chips and cookies) are always welcome.

Dixon House Senior Living Center

The Dixon House located at 108 N. Higgins in Easton is seeking volunteers interested in helping out oc-casionally with crafts projects for the residents. All supplies are provided. If you would like to help, please contact Pastor Walt or the church office, or you can contact activities director Shelly Laroque directly at 410-822-6661.

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“To have faith is to live it.” However, living out our faith is often easier said then done. Would you like to gain a better understanding on how to better live out your faith when often trials and discouragement get in the way? In the Letter of James, he directs us to put faith into action. He also challenges us to look at our motives as we strive to put our own faith into action. Why do we do what we do? James’ letter is clear, concise and to the point. Hopefully, as we study this letter together, we will come to have a better understanding of what it means to “put our faith into action” and how to best go about doing it. The Covenant Bible Series will continue on Tuesday evenings from 7-8 p.m. in the Parlor. The re-maining dates are:

November 5 The Kind of Faith that Counts November 12 The Power of Words November 19 Friendship with God November 26 Rejecting God December 3 Doing While Waiting December 10 The Healing Community

Sponsored by the Christian Education Team

Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Nov. 24

Preaching Bobby Hutchison Pastor Walt Pastor Walt Pastor Walt

Worship Leader Kevin Wile Lynn Butler Wanda Baynard Jay Lister

Head Usher Lee Ann Fox Lee Ann Fox Lee Ann Fox Lee Ann Fox

Ushers Ron & Elisa Miller Geoff & Lee Ann Fox Ron & Elisa Miller Geoff & Lee Ann Fox

Greeters Terri Tarr & Sharon Miller

Lynn Butler & Doris Schwaninger Geoff & Lee Ann Fox Rick & Jane Marshall

Deacons on call Rick & Jane Marshall Leroy & Sharon Miller Ron & Elisa Miller John & Norma Trax

Special Music Robert McGee Liz Wildasin John Coleman Choir

Flowers Mat & Wanda Baynard Ann Harvey Bruce Butler

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Attendance 33 31 47 43 154 10/6/18 10/13/19 10/20/18 10/27/19

Distributions General (06)

Envelopes 2,445.00 1,015.00 1,299.00 2,125.00 6,884.00 Loose Change/Cash 0.00 28.01 0.00 4.00 32.01

Tithes 2,445.00 1,043.01 1,299.00 2,129.00 6,916.01

06 Income Building Use Wed. Beginners 360.00 Safe Harbor 30.00 Dutchmans Lane Rent 1,155.00 1,155.00 Harrison St. Rent 1,155.00 1,155.00

Subtotal of Income 0.00 0.00 2,670.00 30.00 2,310.00 Totals 2,445.00 1,043.01 3,969.00 2,159.00 9,226.01

Special Offerings (07)

Deacon Fund 800.00 800.00 In Kind Carry Out Containers 11.95 11.95 Pig Roast Sanitation 148.40 148.40 Pig Roast Frases 375.00 375.00 Pig Roast Supplies 112.07 112.07 Cupcakes & Cookies 15.30 15.30 In & Out

Totals 811.95 15.30 635.47 0.00 1,462.72

Totals 3,256.95 1,058.31 4,604.47 2,159.00 10,688.73

**We are in the Fourth Quarter. If you have any questions about your giving, please contact Judy Musch. **2019 YEAR END GIVING CUTOFF WILL BE JANUARY 5, 2020.

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Easton Church of the Brethren Peachblossom Press 412 S. Harrison Street Easton, MD 21601

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